Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

OSTEND, May 5

The 8th regiment of light horse, commanded by Colonel Lascelles, lately disembarked at this place, is composed entirely of Irish and so very desirous are they to be in action, and take prisoners, that when their parties are on the look out, they take Hanoverians, Hessians, and every person they meet who cannot speak English. A very laughable circumstance of this kind occurred yesterday morning in the neighbourhood of Ostend :

A picquet belonging to the Irish regiment was in motion about six miles from the town, and the officer who commanded ordered one man to advance about a mile on the road, and to fire if he saw an enemy. The man fired and returned to the picquet in full gallop, swearing most vehemently that he had discharged his pistol at 15,000 Frenchmen, who were advancing with the utmost expedition to Ostend. Two Hanoverians came up at this moment who belonged to the detachment employed to convoy three pieces of artillery, taken that morning from the French at Rouilliere. The Irish immediately took them prisoners. They expostulated, but could not make themselves understood. The Hibernians swore, that as they could not speak English, they must be French, and absolutely proceeded with them to Ostend, as prisoners of war.